Kevin Spacey

[CarlosCorbewrong]

Yeah, let’s make it more scary for victims of sexual abuse to come forward, up the patriarchy!

[rsbaggy2]

Good

Now fine the jockeys who are throwing around these allegations looking for a cash windfall

Cuzer

Was it proven that they were looking for a cash windfall? Extremely wealthy actor walks free and thanks his very highly paid legal team after jury took over 12 hours to find him not guilty. 
Make the accusers pay? That should put the fear of God in any future victims going to the police.

[Spandaubaggie]

Good

Now fine the jockeys who are throwing around these allegations looking for a cash windfall

Cuzer

Was it proven that they were looking for a cash windfall? Extremely wealthy actor walks free and thanks his very highly paid legal team after jury took over 12 hours to find him not guilty. 
Make the accusers pay? That should put the fear of God in any future victims going to the police.

And this post eloquently sums up the issue.

The ultimate no smoke without fire statement, despite someone walking free from court after the allegations did not convince them.

He is wealthy and successful but does that mean he's been allowed to have his career destroyed for 7 years?

Wealthy and successful people can upset plenty of people along the way and some people are motivated by more than money, especially in the catty world of art. 

Playing devil's advocate perhaps some thought they'd chum up to Spacey and he'd propel their career, but instead he favoured other actors.

There's no perfect solution to sexual crime cases. I covered loads of them as a court reporter in the 1990s and spoke to all sides, but anyone thinking it's all fine now that Kevin Spacey has walked free really hasn't a clue what goes on and how complex the issue is.

[Shabby Russian]

I always think it is best not to comment on criminal cases.

Unless you have attended court for the whole of the proceedings, you are relying on second hand reporting and built in prejudices.

Jury trials are not fallible, but are probably the best way of determining criminal cases. We just have to trust in their conclusions.

[CarlosCorbewrong]

If you consider the threshold for the CPS to actually take people to court then comparisons with the weirdo making up shit about Lord McAlpine are fatuous (but at least consistent with the emergent sex-offender-vibe this board takes occassionally).

[Duffers]

I’ve done jury service on a sexual assault case and the reality is that unless there is hard evidence (DNA, witnesses, video, etc) it is one person’s word against another. It’s almost impossible to vote to convict in those circumstances.

It’s also not as black and white as “he’s been found not guilty so the other parties must be lying” either.

[Fido]

I suppose that cynicism is built up over various cases that have seen pay off (one Royal nonce springs to mind) that then makes you think there is always the possibility that money has changed hands. Of course it’s prejudicial but it’s just a natural turn for the human mind to take.

[NewWanker]

I suppose that cynicism is built up over various cases that have seen pay off (one Royal nonce springs to mind) that then makes you think there is always the possibility that money has changed hands. Of course it’s prejudicial but it’s just a natural turn for the human mind to take.

It always feels like people judge / defend cases based on how much they like the accused etc... hence your Royal nonce comment, hence others still defending Michael Jackson etc...

[Cuzer]

Good

Now fine the jockeys who are throwing around these allegations looking for a cash windfall

Cuzer

Was it proven that they were looking for a cash windfall? Extremely wealthy actor walks free and thanks his very highly paid legal team after jury took over 12 hours to find him not guilty. 
Make the accusers pay? That should put the fear of God in any future victims going to the police.

And this post eloquently sums up the issue.

The ultimate no smoke without fire statement, despite someone walking free from court after the allegations did not convince them.

He is wealthy and successful but does that mean he's been allowed to have his career destroyed for 7 years?

Wealthy and successful people can upset plenty of people along the way and some people are motivated by more than money, especially in the catty world of art. 

Playing devil's advocate perhaps some thought they'd chum up to Spacey and he'd propel their career, but instead he favoured other actors.

There's no perfect solution to sexual crime cases. I covered loads of them as a court reporter in the 1990s and spoke to all sides, but anyone thinking it's all fine now that Kevin Spacey has walked free really hasn't a clue what goes on and how complex the issue is.

You're of course right

It just frustrates that this type of "after the event" allegations seems to be more common now and for every true case which needs punishment there is somebody smelling dollar signs, today society

Cuzer

[Protheroe]

It always feels like people judge / defend cases based on how much they like the accused etc... hence your Royal nonce comment, hence others still defending Michael Jackson etc...

This. It's the same with Nigel Farage's bank account.